Lu Zhengliu

Biodata

Background and History

Marriage and return to the capital

Lu Zhengliu was the legitimate eldest son of the Wuding Marquis Residence. His grandparents compelled him to marry Lin Yunwan as a family duty, although he loved his childhood sweetheart, Ge Bao’er. After seven years away from the capital, he returned as the formally appointed heir to the marquisate 2 3 10.

He wanted to bring Bao’er and their son Qing into the residence. During the adoption rites, Qing was renamed Lu Changzong, while Lu Chang’gong was recognized as Lin Yunwan’s eldest legitimate son 2 4.

Zhengliu sought a renowned teacher for Qing, personally visiting prospective tutors before Zhang Feng’an agreed to teach him. A lower fifth-rank military post as pacification officer at the Dragon-Tiger Guard Command Office was proposed for Zhengliu 10 21 25.

Household scandal and loss of title

Lin Yunwan arranged for Zhu Qing to become Zhengliu’s concubine. He later made Zhu Qing drink contraceptive soup, while continuing to promise Ge Bao’er a proper status 36 40 50.

Bao’er’s staged suicide exposed her relationship with Zhengliu. Zhu Qing warned him that Bao’er had orchestrated the crisis, causing him to question their reunion. Zhengliu later admitted he had known Bao’er was a criminal’s bondservant 57 67.

When Qing publicly identified Bao’er as his birth mother, the deception surrounding him became a dispute between the Lu and Lin families. Zhengliu refused Lin Yunwan’s demand for a mutual divorce, offering instead to send Bao’er away. An imperial edict subsequently stripped him of his title as heir 74 78 81.

The fire and its aftermath

At the family nunnery, Zhengliu kicked open a burning building’s locked door, and an injured Lu Chang’gong emerged. Believing Lin Yunwan had died in the fire, Zhengliu accused Bao’er of killing her and had her locked in the woodshed. He later called for her execution but accepted Old Madam Lu’s proposal to leave her at Duke Xingguo’s Residence instead 109 111 114.

After losing his title, Zhengliu worked as a merchant with help from Duke Xingguo’s Residence. He lived alone in Drooping Silk Hall and had become openly cold toward Bao’er 229.

Reunion and downfall

Years later, Zhengliu saw a woman resembling Lin Yunwan at Red Elephant Temple. At a banquet at Duke Xingguo’s Residence, he recognized Yunwan and tearfully begged her to return. She denied knowing him, and he learned that she had remarried as Prince Huan’s Consort 232 233 239.

Zhengliu celebrated when Chang’gong passed the provincial examinations at fifteen and looked to him as the Lu family’s hope. He later agreed to approach Prince Huan privately with Bao’er about Yunwan’s identity, but Zhu Qing and Chang’gong denied that the consort was Yunwan 245 248 254.

As officials confiscated the family property, Zhengliu tried to entrust the family’s future to Chang’gong. His adopted son refused, blamed him for Yunwan’s apparent death, and revealed that he had known she faked it. Zhengliu attacked him but fell; guards then placed Zhengliu in a cangue. After Prince Huan ordered him tortured in prison, news spread that he had killed himself there 260 261.

Appearance

Lu Zhengliu was known as a handsome man in the capital. After years in the military, his bearing had become stern rather than that of a polished noble scion 2 4.

• Features: Thick black brows and a stern face 21.
• Dress: After returning to the capital, he wore fine silks with black boots embroidered in auspicious cloud patterns; he later appeared in patrol armor 2 36.
• Later appearance: Past thirty, he had grown a beard and lost his earlier air of charm and arrogance 229.

Personality

Zhengliu was proud and accustomed to his elevated position. He resented his forced marriage and initially found Yunwan’s efforts to advise and restrain him irritating. Although willing to preserve her dignity as his principal wife, he intended to give her little more 2 4.

He was protective of Bao’er and often excused her conduct, even when acknowledging that she was wrong. His judgment changed as her schemes harmed the household and he came to believe she had killed Yunwan 16 57 111.

Zhengliu was concerned with the Lu family’s future: he pursued teachers for Qing, sought influential connections, and later considered business ventures to support the household. He also came to regret his treatment of Yunwan, though he continued to press for her return after learning that she had remarried 10 53 95 239.

Abilities and Skills

Military experience and physical strength

Zhengliu spent years away from the capital in military service and later performed patrol duties 10 36.

• He fought several scholars at Jialing Tower, knocking some down and smashing a table with a punch 90.
• He kicked open the locked door of the burning building at the nunnery 109.

Relationships

• Lin Yunwan — His first wife. Their marriage was forced, and his favoritism toward Bao’er drove a family scandal. After believing Yunwan dead, he sought her return when he discovered she was alive and remarried 2 78 239.
• Ge Bao’er — His childhood sweetheart and Qing’s birth mother. Zhengliu brought her into the residence and promised her status, but later blamed her for Yunwan’s apparent death 8 40 111.
• Lu Changzong (Qing) — His biological son with Bao’er, renamed during the adoption rites. Zhengliu initially invested heavily in his education but later urged Chang’gong not to follow his example 4 10 236.
• Lu Chang’gong — His adopted eldest legitimate son. Zhengliu came to regard him as the family’s hope, unaware that Chang’gong resented him for what happened to Yunwan 236 260.
• Zhu Qing — His concubine and Mu’er’s mother. She warned him about Bao’er’s schemes and later denied that Prince Huan’s Consort was Yunwan 36 57 254.
• Mu’er — His daughter with Zhu Qing. She was shy around Zhengliu but affectionate with Chang’gong 233.
• Old Madam Lu — His grandmother and the elder he respected most. She pushed him to protect the family’s standing, though they clashed over Bao’er and Yunwan 8 78 95.
• Lu Jia — His elder sister, who married into the Xia family. Old Madam Lu hoped the Xia connection could help Zhengliu regain influence 46 53.
• Lin Yunyi — Yunwan’s younger brother. Zhengliu later tried to help his proposed marriage after suspecting Bao’er’s relatives had undermined it 229 231.